Moment in time: Launch of Durrow Howya Festival in 2010

Ear to The Ground presenters Ella McSweeney and Helen Carroll with 'Paddy the Farmer' and 'Happy Harry' at the launch of the Durrow Laois Howya Festival
Picture: Alf Harvey.

Our photographic look back this week focuses on the launch of the Laois Howya Festival and the inaugural Scarecrow Festival and perhaps as an indication of its potential success, some RTÉ stars were on hand for the event.

And as the brilliant photographs from Alf Harvey show, the event was eagerly anticipated.

Ear to the Ground presenters Helen Carroll and Ella McSweeney were the special guests at the event.

It’s fair to say that the event has gone from strength-to-strength since it first began.

Such was the success of the scarecrow element of the festival that it now enjoys national renown.

Now in its 9th year, it has been nominated twice for ‘Best Festival’ in the Irish Times Ticket Awards.

The organisers say the strive to improve the festival to ensure all their visitors enjoy the events as much as they enjoy providing them.

Our Lady’s Meadow NS pupils at the the Durrow Laois Howya Festival launchAll lined up at the launch of the Durrow Laois Howya FestivalEar to The Ground presenters Helen Carroll and Ella McSweeneyHowya from Durrow for the launch of the Durrow Laois Howya FestivalEar to The Ground presenters Ella McSweeney and Helen Carroll with ‘Paddy the Farmer’ and ‘Happy Harry’Our Lady’s Meadow pupils Jason Daly, Nicola Ryan and Alanna Starnes

A journalist for over 20 years, David has worked for a number of regional titles both as journalist and editor. From Tullamore he also works as a content editor for Independent.ie. His heroes include Shane Lowry, Seamus Darby and Johnny Flaherty